(SOLVED) Does anyone know if the B450M PRO-VDH Max is already updated with the lastest bios?

[Bing Chilling]

from what i've read online, the MAX part in the name means it has the most reason bios update

i'm asking because i do not have a 2000/3000 series CPU to update the bios
and i am planning on buying a 5000 series AM4 cpu.

thanks.

Update: i'm just going to go with a higher end mobo instead of relying on
if the bios is updated, as there's no flashback on this mobo,it's quite low end for a 5800x3D, AMD's loaner program is closed (to my knowledge) and buying a second hand cpu for cheap just to update it, seems kinda pointless when the MSI MPG AMD B550 has flashback,is quite alot nicer and is most likely already updated as it says on the website. Plus it's only $40 CAD more then the B450M PRO-VDH Max

thanks for the help in the comments though

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

If you want something working out of the box with 5000 series then B550 is safer bet.
Like MSI PRO B550M-VC.

[Bing Chilling]

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

If you want something working out of the box with 5000 series then B550 is safer bet.

i mean i was also looking at the MSI MPG AMD B550
but it's $130 instead of $70

i know it supports AM4 5000 series out the box, but it's alot to be spending on a dead platform
(in terms of upgradability)

if anyone else can chime in on if the B450M PRO-VDH Max is updated
that'd be great.

[Bing Chilling]

as a side note, i don't want to go AM5 right now since i want to re-use ram and AM5 CPU's in canada are stupid expensive atm, motherboards too. $200+ for any decent mobo
and lets not even talk about the cpus lol

canada usually takes years for prices to come down to anything decent
and is why i am finally going am4 with 5000 series (it's a big upgrade from my i5 8600k)

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tr4Ycf/msi-pro-b550m-vc-wifi-micro-atx-am4-motherboard-pro-b550m-vc-wifi

[Bing Chilling]

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tr4Ycf/msi-pro-b550m-vc-wifi-micro-atx-am4-motherboard-pro-b550m-vc-wifi

this is the US site
however that motherboard is actually more expensive then the MSI MPG AMD B550 in canada atleast.

[PopinFRESH]

If you’re buying it new it might ship with the latest bios but likely it’s been in a warehouse before October last year.

I’m not sure if they still do this, but AMD had a program specifically for your situation before they started supporting BIOS flashback (flashing BIOS without a CPU installed). You fill out your info and they will ship you an athlon CPU so you can update BIOS, then you ship if back to them. If you don’t return the loaner CPU they charge your credit card for the CPU.

[Bing Chilling]

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

If you’re buying it new it might ship with the latest bios but likely it’s been in a warehouse before October last year.

I’m not sure if they still do this, but AMD had a program specifically for your situation before they started supporting BIOS flashback (flashing BIOS without a CPU installed). You fill out your info and they will ship you an athlon CPU so you can update BIOS, then you ship if back to them. If you don’t return the loaner CPU they charge your credit card for the CPU.

i heard the loaner program was closed
but honestly i'm gonna bite the bullet as i am going with a 5800x3d
and am going to buy the MSI MPG AMD B550 which does have flashback anyways if needed

i look at it being worth the extra money for a quality motherboard since
i'll be putting a fairly high end chip on it.

that cpu should last me a good long while for gaming
and even with the more expensive mobo
it's ALOT cheaper then getting something on AM5 with their pricing being insane in canada atm and probably* for years to come.

[Tonepoet]

Does this motherboard have U.S.B. B.I.O.S. flashback? I remember specifically choosing my AM4 motherboard specifically for this purpose. The feature goes by various marketing names, but it allows you to press a button and update the B.I.O.S. with just the U.S.B. stick, if you do not have a processor.

If it does not, then A.M.D. had a loaner chip program[www.pcworld.com] for people who want to update their B.I.O.S. Given that they are still releasing chips for AM4, you might still be able to take advantage of it, so maybe you should get in touch with their customer support. [Edit: Seems I was beaten to the punch, but still, there's no reason you can't ask them if the program is still open.]

Failing that you could maybe buy a used ryzen 1200 or an athlon 200ge/300ge C.P.U. for about $20, use it to flash your motherboard and try flip it back on the market. All AM4 motherboards should have backwards compatibility spanning back that far 'cause A.M.D. promised they would according to the previously linked article.

Even if you can't manage to resell the chip you buy, buying a secondhand chip to update the B.I.O.S. is cheaper than buying a new motherboard, and if it's a functioning chip you can keep it as a spare part to troubleshoot your system if for some reason (heaven forbid), your new C.P.U. gets fried and maybe get your comp. running again until you get a replacement part.

[Bing Chilling]

Originally posted by Tonepoet:

Does this motherboard have U.S.B. B.I.O.S. flashback? I remember specifically choosing my AM4 motherboard specifically for this purpose.

If it does not, then A.M.D. had a loaner chip program[www.pcworld.com] for people who want to update their B.I.O.S. Given that they are still releasing chips for AM4, you might still be able to take advantage of it, so maybe you should get in touch with their customer support.

Failing that you could maybe buy a used ryzen 1200 or an athlon 200ge/300ge C.P.U. for about $20, use it to flash your motherboard and try flip it back on the market. All AM4 motherboards should have backwards compatibility spanning back that far 'cause A.M.D. promised they would according to the previously linked article.

Even if you can't manage to resell the chip you buy, buying a secondhand chip to update the B.I.O.S. is cheaper than buying a new motherboard, and if it's a functioning chip you can keep it as a spare part to troubleshoot your system if for some reason (heaven forbid), your motherboard gets fried.

it doesn't have flashback
and at that point if i have to buy a second hand cpu
why not just go with a better mobo

also the loaner program is closed to my knowledge for AM4

[PopinFRESH]

To request the boot-kit, please follow these instructions:

Go to the AMD Warranty Request Form
Fill in your contact information and product details (AMD Ryzen Series Desktop Processor part number and serial number)
In the Problem Description field enter "Boot kit Required" (without quotes)
Note: The product must be a valid AMD processor with authentic part number (OPN) and serial number (SN).

Once the claim is received and approved, confirmation details and boot-kit instructions will be provided in a follow up email.

I didn’t see any info on the support page for the boot kit that says it isn’t available any more but they could have discontinued the program. Get your board and CPU and if it doesn’t have the latest bios already installed for Ryzen 5000 support then try to do these instructions and see if they still do it. If not you can probably find a used compatible CPU like what they would ship for the Boot Kit for $50 or so; maybe less.

[_I_]

you can always update bios yourself

but its a very weak board for mid or higher end cpus

4+1+1 phase pwm config
hopefully it has the heatsinks on the 4 phases for the cpu cores to deliver a max of 100w
the 5xxx cpus need more than that

[Bing Chilling]

Originally posted by _I_:

you can always update bios yourself

but its a very weak board for mid or higher end cpus

4+1+1 phase pwm config
hopefully it has the heatsinks on the 4 phases for the cpu cores to deliver a max of 100w
the 5xxx cpus need more than that

the entire point of the post is that i can't do that as i don't own a amd cpu already and there's no flashback lol

but anyways im going with a different mobo

[Tonepoet]

Originally posted by Bing Chilling:

It doesn't have flashback and at that point if i have to buy a second hand cpu why not just go with a better mobo

also the loaner program is closed to my knowledge for AM4

Well I mean, like I said, it's a separate part, so you could flip it or keep it as a backup.

Also, actually, I think it does support B.I.O.S. flashback. Different brands have different marketing names for the feature. Asus calls it Q-Flash for instance. I forgot what M.S.I. called it, which is why I asked.

M.S.I. calls it M-Flash. Look at page 18 of the manual.[www.msi.com]

[_I_]

Originally posted by Bing Chilling:

Originally posted by _I_:

you can always update bios yourself

but its a very weak board for mid or higher end cpus

4+1+1 phase pwm config
hopefully it has the heatsinks on the 4 phases for the cpu cores to deliver a max of 100w
the 5xxx cpus need more than that

the entire point of the post is that i can't do that as i don't own a amd cpu already and there's no flashback lol

but anyways im going with a different mobo

its not like the first am4 boards where they needed a cpu it knew about before it could update bios

amd fixed that with later boards, they can run on unsupported cpus, in limp mode enough to update bios for better support

but that board is not good enough to run a cpu that needs more than 70w continuously
its vrms will be throttling the cpu before it gets warm

[Bing Chilling]

Originally posted by _I_:

Originally posted by Bing Chilling:

the entire point of the post is that i can't do that as i don't own a amd cpu already and there's no flashback lol

but anyways im going with a different mobo

its not like the first am4 boards where they needed a cpu it knew about before it could update bios

amd fixed that with later boards, they can run on unsupported cpus, in limp mode enough to update bios for better support

but that board is not good enough to run a cpu that needs more than 70w continuously
its vrms will be throttling the cpu before it gets warm

im not discrediting your statement but how do you know this?
everywhere officially on motherboards websites it says you need a certain bios

also i do agree with you that the VRMs are not up to snuff for the CPU i am going to put in it.